Missing Prisoner Is Arrested

Murder suspect John Anslow has been arrested in Cyprus more than a year after escaping from a prison van.

32 year old John Anslow from Tipton was being transported to Stafford Crown Court when he escaped from the van near HMP Hewell Grange, in Tardebigge near Bromsgrove, on January 23 last year.

Staffordshire Police said Anslow was arrested for immigration offences in the Alancak area of Northern Cyprus on Wednesday before being deported by the Turkish Cypriot authorities.

He was arrested upon arrival at Heathrow Airport yesterday before being transferred to a high-security prison.

He is due to appear via video link at Stafford Crown Court on Monday 18th March for failing to appear in court last January.

Anslow was one of five men charged with the murder of businessman Richard Deakin in Chasetown, Staffordshire, in July 2010.

Police said Mr Deakin's family had been updated about the latest development.

Nine men have been arrested and charged by West Mercia Police in connection with Anslow's escape in the past three weeks.